Family Budget Fact Sheets
EPI’s Family Budget Calculator measures the income a family needs in order to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living. Compared with the federal poverty line and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, EPI’s family budgets provide a more accurate and complete measure of economic security in America. These fact sheets offer a full picture of the cost of living in each county and metro area in the United States.
Family budgets in
For a two-parent, two-child family in , it costs per month ( per year) to secure a modest yet adequate standard of living.
Here’s a breakdown of how much it costs for a two-parent, two-child family to get by in :
- Housing: per month • /year
- Food: per month • /year
-
Child care:
per month
• /year
Monthly costs range from for a single-child family to for a family with four kids. - Transportation: per month • /year
- Health care: per month • /year
- Other necessities: per month • /year
- Taxes: per month • /year
Among the counties in , has the highest cost of living. But median family income here is the highest, so when cost of living is calculated relative to median income, the county ranks .
Among the 100 largest metro areas, has the highest cost of living. But median family income here is the highest, so when cost of living is calculated relative to median income, the area ranks .
Source: Economic Policy Institute Family Budget Calculator, January 2024. Data are in 2023 dollars